by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
Seventy percent of Minnesota’s young people play some kind of sports, and 20 percent of those kids will be injured while playing sports and require medical care.
That rather alarming statistic is partly what sparked Patty Candella of Sartell to organize a Sartell Says panel discussion with three local doctors, all of them highly knowledgable about sports injuries.
The free question-and-answer forum will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, April 7 at the Sartell High School Theater. Audience members will be encouraged to ask questions and raise concerns.
Candella, the producer for the Sartell Says series of debates, will moderate the forum. Last month’s Sartell Says debate, the second in the series, explored the topic of sports injuries and the question of whether or not football should continue as a school sport. Because of that debate, Candella realized what a widespread interest there is in the topic, along with so many concerns of parents, school officials and medical experts. That is why she decided to organize the upcoming forum, a partnering project with the school district.
“This (forum) is a way for parents to connect with medical expertise in this community,” Candella said. “It’s about hearing from professionals. There is a lot of interest about sports and injuries, along with a lot of confusion. We want to hear about the risks and the rewards of sports.”
The forum will feature a panel comprised of Dr. Mark Halstrom of Williams Integracare; Dr. George Morris, medical director at CentraCare Clinic; and Dr. David Smith of Sartell Pediatrics.